KUALA LUMPUR (June 3): Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will assess the level of cleanliness and ensure that the infrastructure facilities at over 70 hawker areas and open markets around the  capital city are functioning properly, before they are allowed to reopen.

Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said any hawker and open market sites found to be filthy and the facilities damaged, would be given two weeks to undertake cleaning and repair works.

"If possible DBKL should come up with a budget to have the damaged roads resurfaced, clogged drains cleared and repair everything that is necessary around the market area.

"In addition the seating arrangement and movement flow must be planned to allow for social distancing, so that the area is not crowded, while booths, parasols, tables and chairs must be clean and in good condition, in accordance with the Health Ministry (MOH) guidelines.

"We do not want certain areas to be known for their dirty markets with stalls erected haphazardly leaving tourists with a bad impression of our society and the city,” he said in a Facebook live streaming today.

Annuar said DBKL would be deploying five to 10 officers at open markets and hawker areas to ensure that the SOPs are followed consistently.

"We cannot open them free for all and if there are not enough workers or no licences in certain markets, the licensing department will arrange for the enforcement workers to work with the local committee to give backup support and to assist in getting licenses for the hawkers there.

"Our concept is to encourage our people to do business, we want to facilitate those who have no licence but are interested to start a business so that everyone can earn more money to support their families,” he said.

Meanwhile, Annuar, who is also Federal Territories Security Working Committee chairman said the Ministry and DBKL have prepared the SOP for the reopening of stalls and open markets under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO), to be presented to the National Security Council (MKN).

"God willing, the proposal will be tabled this Saturday,” he said adding that certain guidelines would be introduced to give the capital city a clean image and to ensure that daily markets and hawkers operate in clean and safe surroundings.